Sometimes you might hear that a Karate teacher is just one step ahead of his students. With a new teacher, this might be expected.

However, in all the dojo in which I have ever trained, students begin to teach almost as soon as they are more advanced than new students. The senior students always help the juniors. By the time a student becomes an instructor, he might have already have been teaching, and even conducting classes, for many years.

In addition, a teacher might be teaching students who are only a few months or years junior to him. He might even be teaching his own seniors. In that case, the teacher is not one step ahead, he might be a step or two behind.

But that's OK. I have often had to teach students who are older or senior to me. We just teach the very best that we can.

As time goes on, a teacher might find himself many steps ahead of his student -- even miles ahead. To tell the truth, it is easier to teach when you are closer to the students.

Personally, I have found that more advanced I become, the more difficult it is for me to teach. This is because I tend to concentrate on fine points, rather than running a well rounded, vigorous class.

A new teacher should always remember the importance of knowing his craft. He should always strive to learn Karate. Teaching is part of learning.

Monthly Archives

"Karate Jutsu" means "China Hand art". Karate came to Okinawa from China.
Only in the 1930s or so, was the term "Karate" changed to mean "Empty Hand".
"China Hand" was used in Hawaii until after World War II, and is still used in some dojo.